Improving land use and land cover monitoring by integrating optical imagery and synthetic aperture radar in fragmented rural landscapes around Nandoni Dam, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

This study investigated land cover changes in the Nandoni Dam region from 2001 to 2021. A significant decline in vegetation was observed, highlighting the impact of dam construction on ecosystems. The study also explored the use of data fusion to improve LULC classification in rural areas. While data fusion enhanced accuracy, statistical analysis did not reveal a significant difference between optical-only and optical-SAR+optical methods. The findings emphasize the importance of monitoring LULCC and utilizing data fusion techniques for effective land management.